Science Response 2016/050

Technical review of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 environmental assessment: section 10.3 – assessing ecosystem productivity

Context

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA), formerly Port Metro Vancouver (the Proponent) is proposing to construct and operate the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project (the Project), a new three-berth marine container terminal at Roberts Bank in Delta, British Columbia. The proposed terminal is located next to the existing Deltaport and Westshore Terminals.  In addition to the construction of the new terminal, the Proponent has proposed to widen the north side of the existing Roberts Bank causeway from its east-end connection with the mainland to the entrance to the new terminal. The existing tug basin, connected to the northeast side of Deltaport Terminal, is also proposed to be expanded.  The new marine terminal is predicted by the Proponent to process up to 260 container ship calls per year at full capacity, with the assistance of two or three large berthing or escort tugs to manoeuver ships into or away from assigned berths. The terminal is designed to operate 24 hours per day year-round.

The Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project is subject to an environmental assessment by a Review Panel pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. As a federal authority in the environmental assessment for the Project, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) will be asked to present information to the review panel and at public hearings in relation to its expertise on the effects of the Project on fish and fish habitat, including aquatic species at risk, and the adequacy of mitigation and offsetting measures and monitoring and follow-up programs proposed by the Proponent. DFO’s Pacific Region Fisheries Protection Program (FPP) will coordinate DFO’s participation in the environmental assessment.

The Proponent assessed future ecosystem productivity at Roberts Bank using the Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) model framework. The potential impacts of the Project to hydrodynamic conditions and sediment transport in the area as a result of changes in wind, wave and current patterns and intensities, are projected using different model frameworks. A companion Science Response (DFO 2016) has been developed by DFO and Natural Resource Canada (NRCan) to review Section 9.5 “Coastal Geomorphology” of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which describes the hydrodynamic and sedimentology models that were used to evaluate the effect of the Project on water and sediment movements.

Outcomes of the EwE models are incorporated into the analysis of the potential project-related effects on the ongoing productivity of commercial, recreational, and Aboriginal fisheries. Consequently, DFO FPP has requested that DFO Science Branch provide an evaluation of the Proponent’s characterization of project-related effects as conducted using the Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) ecosystem model.

The objectives for this Science Response are to:

1. Determine if the functional groups and abiotic factors used in the model adequately represent the ecosystem at Roberts Bank.
2. Assess whether the parameter estimates used by the model are valid and defensible for this system.
3. Assess whether the limitations and uncertainties of the model are identified and appropriately considered when determining the model’s representation of current and possible future conditions.
4. Provide advice regarding whether the model results related to the potential effects of the Project on fish and fish habitat, and migratory birds and their food resources, are valid and defensible.
5. If possible, provide advice regarding the validity of using the EwE model framework to quantify large scale impacts to fish habitat and fisheries productivity, and the productivity of migratory birds.

This Science Response evaluates Section 10.0 “Biophysical Setting” with a focus on Section 10.3 “Overview of Assessing Ecosystem Productivity” in the EIS as submitted by the Proponent (Port Metro Vancouver 2015). This Section, and consequently this Response, describes the ecosystem modelling approach that was taken to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of the footprint of the proposed terminal and widened causeway, herein referred to as ‘the Project’. This ecosystem model provides outputs related to potential effects of the project on the study area at an ecosystem level, including aquatic species and bird species in the Project area.  Evaluation of the model and its outputs therefore required expertise in both fishery aquatic species and migratory bird species.  Consequently, this Science Response is the product of a joint review between DFO and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) Canadian Wildlife Service and Wildlife and Landscape Science to provide a complete evaluation.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of July 2016 on the Technical Review of Ecopath with Ecosim and Ecospace (EwE) Ecosystem Productivity Model application to the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Environmental Assessment.

Complete document (PDF, 392 KB)

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